E2 sensitive vs standard test results

ta406 said:

With my last blood work I finally broke down as spent the extra dollars to get a sensitive E2 test done. My standard E2 numbers were 51. Sensitive was 37. I felt pretty good at that number. Maybe a dumb question but I'm just trying to avoid paying for a sensitive test every time I get my blood work done thru my doc. Since he wont authorize it, it comes out of my own pocket. Can one "assume" that if my standard E2 test numbers stay around 51 that my real number is around 37? Or is the standard test so inaccurate that I'm just better off paying for the sensitive test when the time comes?

Thanks

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codus2112 said:

I just had this same scenario, ECLIA test was 45, I payed (discounted labs) to get the sensitive and got the results yesterday, it was 26 and I feel good. If I had gone ahead with the 1mg/wk of AI that was prescribed I can only imagine.. Also, I had blood drawn on Monday, results Friday, so fast turnaround.

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CoastWatcher said:

Pay for the sensitive test until you find a new doctor. He won't "authorize" it??? Seriously, that's an act of medical arrogance that shouldn't be tolerated.

True story: standard estradiol test: 69, sensitive test: 55. Repeat the little exercise six weeks later, standard test: 71, sensitive test: 33. These were not drawn at the same time, I live in Canada and travel to the States for all my androgen blood work, this was done in early TRT days when I was curious as to how the tests differed. The standard test is simply unreliable.

Spend the money until you get a doctor who will respect you and treat you as a partner in this process and not a child. Good luck.

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hva said:

If you get the standard Estradiol test done through either Labcorp or Quest they will put a disclaimer under the result informing you and the doctor that this test is not accurate for men. That should be enough info for the doctor to "authorize" the test.

Example:

Reference range established on post-pubertal patient
population. No pre-pubertal reference range
established using this assay. For any patients for
whom low Estradiol levels are anticipated (e.g. males,
pre-pubertal children and hypogonadal/post-menopausal
females), the Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
Estradiol, Ultrasensitive, LCMSMS assay is recommended
(order code 30289).

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